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Train Crash, Explosion in Italy Kills Dozens

8 comments

Updated, more videos added. Scroll down.

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IN VIAREGGIO, ITALY, A 14-CAR TRAIN DERAILED while passing through a residential neighborhood just before midnight last night.  The residents in the village on the Tuscan seacoast were asleep when the crash involving six tank cars carrying liquified natural petroleum gas caused one to rupture and the ensuing explosion leveled at least five buildings and set fire to a large area around the crash scene.

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The early report on casualties shows 15 dead and 50 injured, many with severe burns, but authorities say that the toll will be much higher as more area is searched and missing people are reported.

About 300 people have been evacuated from the area which has now been secured until operations and searches are completed.

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This is an ongoing incident and will be updated when more information is released.

Sky News has some early video from the scene:

Here’s a slide show of several dozen still shots from the scene:

Reuters video report from the scene:

Home video taken before arrival of FD:

Posted by on June 30, 2009 • Filed under: explosion
  • Michael Falzon

    I don’t think it was LNG rather LPG (butane / propane)
    Many peole use the words interchangeably but LNG is refrigerated for transport. LPG is not.
    Most accounts refer to LPG

  • Michael Falzon

    I don’t think it was LNG rather LPG (butane / propane)
    Many peole use the words interchangeably but LNG is refrigerated for transport. LPG is not.
    Most accounts refer to LPG

  • firegeezer

    You could well be right, Michael. All of the European news sources were calling it “natural gas,” but they do use some different nomenclatures over there. (such as calling diesel fuel “kerosene.”) It’s worth checking into.

    Bill S.
    Firegeezer

  • firegeezer

    You could well be right, Michael. All of the European news sources were calling it “natural gas,” but they do use some different nomenclatures over there. (such as calling diesel fuel “kerosene.”) It’s worth checking into.

    Bill S.
    Firegeezer

  • firegeezer

    “Petroleums” outnumber the “naturals.” Posting has been corrected.

  • firegeezer

    “Petroleums” outnumber the “naturals.” Posting has been corrected.

  • Michael falzon

    Definitely LPG. Interestingly it appears that it was an unconfined gas explosion (a tank leaked and the vapour cloud ignited).
    All the tanks in the photos appear intact so there does not appear to have been a BLEVE, just an initial vapour explosion followed by collateral damage from the fires started in buildings cars etc. Again this is supposition!

    Mike

  • Michael falzon

    Definitely LPG. Interestingly it appears that it was an unconfined gas explosion (a tank leaked and the vapour cloud ignited).
    All the tanks in the photos appear intact so there does not appear to have been a BLEVE, just an initial vapour explosion followed by collateral damage from the fires started in buildings cars etc. Again this is supposition!

    Mike